Instrumentation and Control Architect

About NANO Nuclear Energy

NANO Nuclear Energy is an advanced nuclear technology company developing next-generation microreactor systems that will help transform the future of clean, reliable, and resilient energy. Through the development of its KRONOS MMR™ Energy System, LOKI MMR™ Energy System, and ZEUS™ Solid Core Battery Reactor—advanced high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technologies designed for applications including data centers, industrial operations, remote communities, and critical infrastructure, the company is advancing innovative nuclear solutions for a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

NANO Nuclear has also submitted a Construction Permit Application (CPA) to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to support the planned deployment of the KRONOS MMR at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), representing a significant milestone toward the commercialization of advanced nuclear technology.

Joining NANO Nuclear means contributing to pioneering technologies with the potential to redefine the nuclear industry while working alongside experts in engineering, science, and innovation. Our team operates in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where employees are encouraged to solve challenging technical problems and advance the materials technologies needed for next-generation energy systems.

We are seeking a Lead Instrumentation and Control (I&C) Architect to establish, to lead and maintain the design basis for the overarching instrumentation, control, protection, monitoring and automation architecture for our advanced nuclear reactor technologies. This role is responsible for defining the top-level system I&C topology and platform, design principles, safety class separation and boundaries, functional allocation, independence and redundancy strategies, and interfaces between I&C systems and other plant systems, while ensuring compliance with stringent nuclear regulatory frameworks.

This position will provide technical direction to I&C systems and controls engineers and will establish the architectural framework within which detailed I&C system, subsystem, software, hardware, and instrumentation design are developed.

• Define and maintain the top‑level I&C architecture for reactor and supporting plant systems.
• Establish architectural principles for independence, redundancy, diversity, and defense‑in‑depth.
• Select and govern I&C platforms, technologies, and communication frameworks.
• Establish and maintain the I&C design basis and system requirements aligned with safety and licensing needs.
• Maintain requirements traceability and architectural consistency across systems and components.
• Lead system‑level safety and reliability evaluations (FMEA, common‑cause, independence, single‑failure).
• Provide architectural and technical leadership in the design, resolution of cross‑disciplinary architectural issues, management of technical risks, and support licensing and long‑term roadmap development and implementation.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years (or M.Sc. and 8+ years) of experience in system-level I&C architecture design, preferably in nuclear, energy, or aerospace.
• Experience with safety-critical or highly regulated control systems.
• Strong knowledge of industry codes and standards related to I&C systems (e.g., IEEE, ISA, NRC) and engineering practices.
• Deep technical expertise in control logic design, network protocols, and cybersecurity practices for nuclear or safety-critical I&C.
• Demonstrated technical leadership and decision-making capability.

• 12+ years of experience.
• Experience with nuclear safety-related digital I&C.
• Advanced reactor experience.
• FPGA-based protection/control systems.
• A collaborative engineering culture focused on innovation and technical excellence.
• Opportunities for mentorship, professional growth, and technical leadership.
• The opportunity to contribute to a cleaner, more reliable energy future.
• Competitive medical, dental, vision and life insurance with generous company…